Judge controversy

She might be a witch, but Stephanie Conover says that’s no reason forofficials at an upcoming Toronto beauty pageant to reject her as apotential judge. <br />Conover, who was crowned winner of the Miss Canada Plus Pageant lastyear, said she was recently invited to be a judge at the Miss TorontoTourism pageant on Feb. 2.

She might be a witch, but Stephanie Conover says that’s no reason for officials at an upcoming Toronto beauty pageant to reject her as a potential judge. Conover, who was crowned winner of the Miss Canada Plus Pageant last year, said she was recently invited to be a judge at the Miss Toronto Tourism pageant on Feb. 2. “I said I’d definitely be there,” Conover told the Toronto Star yesterday. “Then, last week, on Monday, they asked me for a biography. I told them everything I do, how I’m an entertainer and a singer and a dancer. I talked about my charity work and I said I also have hobbies, including songwriting, knitting, painting, yoga, reiki and tarot cards.”That’s where things got sticky.“We just got her bio a week ago and we don’t agree with it,” said Karen Murray, Miss Toronto Tourism pageant director. “We want someone down to earth, not someone into the dark side or the occult.”“We need a judge who has an upright reputation and we would be proud to introduce to the audience,” noted a Jan. 24 letter to the Miss Canada Plus group from Murray and another official with the Miss Toronto Tourism pageant. Conover said she’s looking into challenging the Miss Toronto Tourism pageant in court, or at a human rights tribunal.